This lesson humbled me...

3 Thoughts

I.

If you’re worried about the price of going after what you want, just remember the price of staying exactly where you are.

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II.

A happy life is a simple life.

A family who loves you back. A healthy body built from years of good sleep, diet, and exercise. A calm mind built from years of reflection, writing, and following your curiosity. A clear purpose that gives you meaning.

Reject complex. Seek simple.

III.

The older I get the more I realize there isn’t really an easy path.

You either face the difficult decision now and reap the benefits later or you delay the decision and face the consequences.

2 Quotes

I.

Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo, on priorities:

“Most people spend more time planning their vacations than their career.”

II.

Leland Val Van De Wall, psychotherapist, on personal growth:

“The degree to which a person can grow is directly proportional to the amount of truth he can accept about himself without running away.”

1 Game-Changing Idea: The Empty Cup

A well-known university professor once traveled to a quiet village in the mountains of China.

He came to visit a respected Zen master.

“I’ve studied philosophy, science, religion,” the professor said. “I’ve read hundreds of books. But I still feel like something is missing.”

The master nodded and offered him tea.

As the professor spoke—listing all the theories and thinkers he had mastered—the master began to pour.

And pour.

And pour.

The tea rose to the rim of the cup—then spilled over the edge, onto the table and floor.

The professor jumped up. “It’s full! No more will go in!”

The master set the teapot down calmly.

“Exactly,” he said. “Like this cup, you are full of your own opinions. You’ve come to learn, but brought no space for new understanding.”

He stood and bowed.

“Come back when your cup is empty.”

—

Every time I think I’ve figured something out—business, content, whatever—I get humbled.

I’ll feel like I’m on a good run. Like I’ve got things dialed in. And then I meet someone who’s working 10x harder and smarter than I am. Suddenly, I’m reminded how much more there is to learn.

A few weeks ago, I joined the content team at one of the world’s biggest business media brands (announcement coming soon). One of the sayings we have is: “There are levels.”

And it’s true. The further you go, the more you realize how far there is to go.

I’ve started speaking less in meetings. Listening more. Asking better questions. Watching how decisions get made and what actually matters.

It’s not about being passive. It’s about staying open.

The truth is, you can’t grow if you’ve already decided you know everything.

There’s always another level. But you won’t see it if you’re too busy proving you’ve already arrived.

Until next week,
Jay “Empty Your Cup” Yang

Ps. Test yourself.

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